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Tuesday, March 25, 2008
News “I think the majority of people would just punch him.”
Posted by on Tue, Mar 25 at 11:25 AM
Some mentally ill people can be extremely irritating, but that doesn’t mean we have a right to lock them up or force them to take pills against their will.
Still. That’s a boring statement, taken out of context, and one I don’t think benefits anybody. Instead, there’s a good read in today’s New York Times about a schizophrenic in Alaska with manic tendencies named William Bigley, which illustrates my point:
BIGLEY: “He’s very inappropriate…”
Bigley refuses to take drugs for his illness, and has been committed over 80 times since his first breakdown in 1980. Upstairs from the courtroom where he evaded commitment yesterday, lawyers were arguing over the shizophrenia drug Zyprexa, which Eli Lilly marketed without warning of its impact on cholesterol and blood sugar, and which Bigley steadfastly refuses to take.
Bigley is strikingly similar in appearance to James Chasse, the Portlander who died in mysterious circumstances here in September 2006.
Last week I wrote two stories about the commitment process here in Portland. Honestly, I think Bigley would probably have been committed had his hearing been held here. In fact I think he probably would have been committed yesterday had the judge not been keenly aware he was being scrutinized by a New York Times reporter. But that’s another story.
It’s a hard position for a judge to be in: Knowing that deciding to set someone free isn’t going to do them any good in the long run, because there’s too few services to keep them well. And often, judging from the number of civil commitments that are subsequently appealed and overturned, it seems in Portland, judges are too willing to commit people for that reason.
But they have a civil right to roam the streets, no matter what the consequences.
Comments
It's pretty harsh to try to force someone to take meds under the assumption that it makes their life better. "Better" is subjective. Most of the time it means: more convenient for the rest of us.
Deletely, what's an S.P. and what does it have to do with this post?
Guys, why doesn't the Mercury use any of the readily available blog software that makes sock puppetry impossible??
I often wonder why people don't use the software in their heads that reminds them to stop acting like assholes.
Remember that one time that the real Matt Davis trolled the Merc readership for a couple months straight? And then cried like a child when said readers started trolling him back?
Off topic and obsessive much?
Hey "Not Matt Davis": Give me a call at the office. I'd like to speak to you. (503) 294-0840. Thanks.
Tix to the Laurelhurst and dinner at No Fish and we have a date, Mr. Humphrey. Until then, we negotiate publicly.
No need to be frightened. Seriously, I just want to talk. 503-294-0840.
Not frightened, Wm. Just looking for tasting sandwiches and maybe another viewing of Cloverfield. If it's not going to happen, just email me:
not.matt.davis@gmail.com
the email is legit, i look forward to hearing from you.
all the best...
Back on topic... you know, if you tattooed a swazi between that guy's eyes, he'd bear a strong resemblance to Charlie Manson. Not that that is a bad thing, jus' sayin'
Not to turn away from my trolling or whatever, but you're definitely not the only one, frank. I opened the blogtown page a couple hours ago and was immediately all "what the fuck, charles manson is up for parole again!?"
"But they have a civil right to roam the streets, no matter what the consequences."
Oh no they don't. We have a duty to protect our general population from fear, perceived or otherwise. But its true, people with mental issues aren't given enough care here but honestly, what can we do besides commit them? The current way we operate isn't because people don't care. It's because there's no absolute science behind treatment for psychological problems at the moment. Unfortunately, that means that people who may harm others have to be separated from the general population.
"We have a duty to protect our general population from fear, perceived or otherwise."
You must work for the government.
Seriously, that's easy for you to say---until you're in the position of being told that you'll be locked up even if you haven't done anything to harm anyone else. Just for being "scary"? WTF. How do you protect someone from fear??
We have heard the warning "You have the right to remain silent..." on police dramas on television. However, when the law cannot make you speak, psychiatry merely takes over where the law cannot proceed further.
A person does not have the right to remain silent when being questioned by a psychiatrist. Declining to answer is cited as criminal contempt of court, which can be a multi-year felony.
Makes me wonder if in the future are they going to start forcing people that are "mentally ill" to get injections for what they say is the public and the person's safety.
Anyone who has taken Zyprexa and any of those class of meds knows they turn you into a walking obese zombie.
Not a fun life to lead and people wonder why they are depressed and suicidal?.
Finding meds that regulate these mental diseases turn people into life long guinea pigs in the medical world. Also they suffer from diseases that most people believe are character flaws and something to joke about.
Lets see what happens to the future of art, literature and music when gene therapy starts working on manic depressive/ bipolar disorder.
Makes me wonder if in the future are they going to start forcing people that are "mentally ill" to get injections for what they say is the public and the person's safety.
Anyone who has taken Zyprexa and any of those class of meds knows they turn you into a walking obese zombie.
Not a fun life to lead and people wonder why they are depressed and suicidal?.
Finding meds that regulate these mental diseases turn people into life long guinea pigs in the medical world. Also they suffer from diseases that most people believe are character flaws and something to joke about.
Lets see what happens to the future of art, literature and music when gene therapy starts working on manic depressive/ bipolar disorder.
el seven, i'm afraid of sharks. by your logic, shouldn't the government lock them all up for me? also, i'm afraid of falling from heights. the government should, by your standard, flatten everything for me. and then there's snakes...
still, i don't think m.d.'s comment was entirely thought out. this dude was in court for a reason. you don't have a civil right to break laws. if the judge found the guy wasn't breaking any laws, yep, he should be out. if he was breaking a law or more, he should have a choice: jail or all necessary treatment. as should every criminal.
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